2026 Nebraska State Tournament Baseball Rules and Refund Policy

All Tournaments that are run by Nebraska Youth Sports will follow USSSA Baseball rules with the following exceptions.

1. Time limit of 1 hour 40 minutes for all age groups. A new inning will not start after the time limit has expired. Time limit of 2 hours in the Championship game.
2. In the case of rain, the tournament director has the discretion to change any rule that will allow the tournament to be completed.
3. Team and individual awards for 1^st and 2^nd place in each championship bracket.
4. Protest fee: $100 cash (on rule interpretation only)
5. Game Time: Starting time is forfeit time.
6. HOME TEAM:   Pool play – Coin Flip.   Bracket play – Higher seed.
7. Home team is the official book.  Both scorekeepers should record game start times. Both scorekeepers should meet between innings to confirm scorebook status.
8. Ties will be allowed in Pool Play. In Bracket Play we will use the Tie Breaker System.  If a game is tied after regulation innings have been completed OR the time limit has expired, the following tie breaker rule will go into effect. Each team will put the last scheduled hitter in the extra inning on 2^nd base AND the 2^nd to last scheduled hitter on 3^rd base. There will be one (1) out.  This will continue until a winner is declared. There will not be a tie breaker rule in the Championship game, but the run rule and 2-hour time limit will be enforced.
9. Infield Warm-Ups: All teams are encouraged to warm up as much as possible before game time. NO pre-game infield! Please stay away from ground crew if they are working in the field.
10. Refund policy:

• Team’s withdrawal from tournament up to entry deadline. Entry fee minus $150 administrative fee.
• Team’s withdrawal from tournament after entry deadline: No refund.

Refund schedule due to weather:

• 0 games started – Entry fee minus $150 administrative fee.
• 1 game started – 50% of entry fee refunded.
• 2 games started – No refund.

1. All rules and game guarantees are subject to change at the discretion of tournament officials.  Forfeits count as a game played.
2. Teams can bat the line-up, bat 9 or bat 9 plus a EH. NO DH.  They must declare which order they are going to use before the game starts and once the game starts, they must continue that for the game.  For teams batting the line-up, the courtesy runner must be the player who recorded the previous out. If no proper courtesy runner is available, the pitcher and /or catcher must run for themselves.  For teams that bat 9 or bat 9 and use EH, any player not currently in the line-up may be the courtesy runner. A courtesy runner MAY NOT run for the pitcher and catcher in the same inning. USSSA pitching rules will be enforced & tracked. Pitching will be tracked online using the National Website. Steel spikes may NOT be used on any Portable Mounds.
3. 2026 USSSA Bat Rules will be enforced with this exception,14 Majors Must Use BBCOR or wood bats only. Tournaments that combine 14M & AAA will use the 2025 Bat Rules that USSSA has posted on the National Website.  7’s through 10’s may have one umpire. 11’s through 14’s will have 2 umpires.

COLUMN A – The maximum number of innings a pitcher can pitch in one (1) day and still pitch the next day.

COLUMN B – The maximum number of innings a pitcher can pitch in one (1) day.

COLUMN C – The maximum number of innings a pitcher can pitch in three (3) consecutive days.

The team manager must complete pitching card and submit to the site director after each game.

A pitcher that pitches three (3) consecutive days MUST rest the next day.

      One out equals 1/3 of an inning. Pitching will be tracked, enforced and posted online.

NEW FOR 2026

Coach and Fan Ejection:

• If you are ejected, you will sit out the rest of that game and the next game. This is mandatoryand does not matter what the reason or severity of the ejection.
• If you argue and make a scene regarding ejection, you will automatically have to sit out the rest of the weekend.
• If you make a scene after being ejected, you face a suspension of multiple weekends. This includes walking away yelling, screaming and using vulgarity towards umpires, tournament directors and or other people at the complex.
• If you get ejected in the last game of a tournament, you will be suspended the next game of your next tournament. No matter where that game is being played.
• If you physically touch or hit an umpire, you will be ejected and will face a suspension which could lead to a lifetime ban, going to jail and being sued for abuse.
• If an umpire restricts you to the dugout, he trying not to eject you. If you make a scene or don’t follow the instructions, you will be ejected.

Player Ejection:

• If a player is ejected, they will sit the rest of that game. Depending on the situation, they could face a further suspension.